The opportunity to witness first hand the unprecedented changes in the world over the past thirty years has taken a technical career from underground nuclear testing in Nevada to nuclear diplomacy in Vienna, Austria. The common language of nuclear science remains a constant throughout. Understanding the isotopic and chemical signatures of uranium, plutonium, and long-lived fission product source terms in the environment enabled a transition from support of nuclear weapons testing in the United States, to cooperative threat reduction programs addressing international Cold War legacies, to the recognition by the international community of the importance of nuclear forensics as a capability to improve the security of vulnerable radioactive materials. Observations include the important role of nuclear science as tool for international engagement as well as the need to clearly translate technical requirements to policy makers.

Science of extraordinary change: From nuclear deterrence to nuclear security

244th National Meeting (2012)

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